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Air and the Atmosphere. Weather and the Atmosphere. Weather is the condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place. Earth’s atmosphere is the envelope of gases that surround the planet.
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Weather and the Atmosphere • Weather is the condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place. • Earth’s atmosphere is the envelope of gases that surround the planet. • The atmosphere is made of many types of gases as well as dust, salt, and other chemicals that are too small to see.
Gases in the Air • Nitrogen – N2 – The most abundant type of gas – 78% • Oxygen – O2 – Used by plants and animals, needed for burning – 21% • Carbon Dioxide – CO2 – Used by plants to make food, is released when coal/gas are burned - < 1% • Water Vapor – H2O – Can vary greatly from place to place and time to time - < 1% • Other – Argon, Neon, Helium, Methane, Krypton, Hydrogen
Troposphere • Means “turning” or “changing” because of its variable conditions • Goes from 0 km to 12 km above sea level • Weather occurs here including rain, snow, storms, and most clouds • The higher you go, the lower the temperature • At the top, it is about -60°C and water forms thin, feathery clouds of ice
Stratosphere • Means “layer” or “spread out” • Goes from 12 km to 50 km above sea level • Contains the ozone layer which is made from O3 and protects us from ultraviolet rays • The higher you go the warmer it gets because the ozone layer absorbs energy, heating up the air
Mesosphere • Means “middle” • Goes from 50 to 80 km above sea level • Protects the Earth from being hit by most meteoroids • What we see as shooting stars or meteors are trails of hot, glowing gases of meteoroids burning up • Temperatures decrease to -90°C
Thermosphere • Means “heat” • Goes above 80 km and has no definite outer limit • Blends gradually with outer space • Gets very hot (1,800°C) because the sun hits it first • Has two layers: the ionosphere and exosphere • The ionosphere goes till 400 km and is where we see the Northern Lights